Awning



S. G. BOND Jan. 16, 1940.

AWNING Filed Sept. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE AWNING Sherman G. Bond, Wichita, Kane.

Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,339

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to awnings and particularly to that type-of awning which is composed of a plurality of horizontally disposed slats adapted to be adjustably inclined to vary the, degree of light passing therethrough.

I have been issued Patent No. 1,813,017, dated July 7, 1931, relating to Metal window awnings. This application includes the general structure shown in said patent as well as certain improvements as will be hereinafter disclosed.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a substantial, practically permanent and highly ornamental awning structure, adapted to be adjusted according the degree of light or sunll'shine desired, the control being located within the building so that the operator need not open the window or go outdoors to operate the awning.

. Another object is to provide an improved method of linking each slat control lever or rocker U with the adjacent lever. A still further object is to provide animproved method of connecting the awning control rod to the rock shaft which actu ates the slat rocker arm. Another object is to provide a smooth acting control having a mini- I mum of friction.

Other objects will be apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings in connection with these specifications, the drawings comprising the following figures:

I Fig. l is a perspective view of the awning assembly comprising my invention, attached in operative relation to the window opening.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the awning assembly showing the disposition of the slat or individual members.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the awning showing same in closed position, parts being broken away to better illustrate certain other parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the end of the awning assembly, the view being taken in the direction of the indicating'arrow in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the awning control. Fig. 'Iis a front elevational view of the same. P18. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line l-8 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through one of the roller bearing assemblies.

Fig. 10 is a disassociated view of the roller bearing retaining members.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference I dtes a window opening having a window frame 2 therein. Brackets 3 may be secured to the frame or to any other suitable structure surrounding the window opening in any suitable manner. A pair of curved arms or supports 4 are pivotally secured to the brackets 3 at 5 5 and depend downwardly and outwardly as shown. Brackets 6 and braces or stays I attached thereto are provided for maintaining the curved arms in proper extended relation to the vertical line of the building. A plurality of openings 8 may be provided in the stay 1 so that the awning may be securely held in any of several positions with respect to the building.

The curved arms or'supports 4 are preferably channel shaped as shown in Fig. 5. Secured at regular intervals along the length of said arms- 4 are rocker arm brackets 9 to which are pivotally mounted rocker arms l0 having portions II and I2, the portion II having a U-shaped terminal I3 adapted to pivotally receive the ends of the rocker arm connecting links l4 which are slightly offset as shown at H in Fig. 4 so that action of the links will be uniform. The portion ii of the rocker arms l0 terminates in a flange I5 to which is secured the slat it, which in its preferred form is slightly arcuated as shown, the flanges being curved to correspond with the arc of the slats.

The elongated slats 16 have an upturned lip ll at their upper edge against which the downturned lip I8 01' the adjacent slat may rest when the awning is in closed position. The end slats l9 and 20 differ in form from the intermediate slats II in that the bottom slat I9 is curved as shown at 2! and the upper slat 20 has a-fiange 22 and a curved portion 23 forming a smooth joint with the window opening. 1

Connected to the last rocker arm I 0 at the top of the awning is link 24 having projections 25 and 28. Pivoted to the projection 25 is a rock shaft or cross rod lever 21 adjustably secured to rock shaft or cross rod 28 bearing in the curved arms .4. Both arms 4 carry identical rocker arms and links, the rock shaft 28 connecting the moving elements on both arms so they will operate simultaneously, preventing binding and twisting of the slats. The other projection 26 of the link 24 pivotally engages'the control rod 28 extending downwardly to the actuating awning control device 30.

The awning control device comprises a frame 3| having flanges 32 provided with openings 33 through which a shaft 34 may pass. The frame 3! is further provided with a groove or track 38 in which is movably positioned the rack. ll, the u upper end of which is forked as shown at 31 to receive the lower end of the control rod 29.

The shaft 34 is prevented from endwise movement by the bearing collars 38 having ball bearings therein to reduce friction. The worm 39 is securely fastened to the shaft 34 and engages the teeth of the rack 36, rotation of the worm in one direction causing the rack to move upwardly and rotation in the opposite direction causing the rack to move downwardly. The lower end of the shaft 34 carries a bevel gear 40 adapted to engage a similar bevel gear 4| carried by a square shaft 42, which passes through opening 43 in the window frame 2 and opening 44 in the apron 45, directly into the interior of the building, a handle 45 being provided on the inner end of the shaft 42 for rotating said shaft. Roller bearing members comprising frames 41 and 48 and rollers 49 positioned therebetween, are provided for reducing to a minimum any friction during the operation of the control. The bearing assemblies are positioned in recesses 50 of bearing supports 5i and 52, the latter support being integral with the frame 3|, the former being mounted to the apron in any suitable manner. The frame 3| may be secured to the window frame 2 by screws 3| or any other suitable means.

In operation, after the awning comprising my invention is properly installed, it is merely necessary to rotate the crank or handle 46, actuating the worm and rack 36 which through its connection'with the control rod 29 will actuate same, moving it up or down depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank.

Movement of the control rod 29 will cause movement of all the rocker arms simultaneously, swinging the slats Hi to spaced relation with each other for admitting light and air through the openings between the slats or to an overlapping position whereby the awning will present a solid front to prevent sunshine, rain, snow or the like from passing therethrough. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 indicate the fully opened position of the slats.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a novel awning, relatively inexpensive to. manufacture and having a low upkeep cost.

The awning may be adjusted from the interior of the building so that any degree of light may be obtained. Retarding passage of light however,

will not prevent free circulation of air through the awning as long as the slats are in open relation to each other. I have also provided a novel con-.

trol for the awning which will require a minimum of effort to operate. The all metal construction will obviate any possibility of fire caused by lighted matches and cigarettes which have caused many conflagrations when thrown down upon canvas awnings. My construction will also provide a better protection against the elements since high winds and heavy hail have been known to entirely wreck awnings made of canvas or similar material. It is also apparent that my invention presents a highly ornamental appearance which may be enhanced by special combinations of color in painting the awning.

Various changes in detail, form and proportion may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I wish to reserve all rights to such changes as come within the scope of these specifications and the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an awning, a pair of supporting arms, a set of spaced rocker arms pivotally mounted on each supporting arm, links connecting the rocker arms, slats positioned transversely of the supporting arms and secured to aligning rocker arms, a rock shaft journaled in the supporting arms, rock shaft levers adjustably secured to the rock shaft, a link connecting each rock shaft lever to each set of rocker arms and links, and means for actuating the rock shaft levers whereby the slats I may be adjusted in relation to each other so that any degree of opening between the slats may be obtained.

2. In an awning of the class described having slats tiltable on a horizontal longitudinal axis to change the degree of opening between the slats, a control for tilting the slats comprising a frame, a rack'slidably mounted in the frame, a worm rotatably journaled in theframe and engaging the rack, and means for rotating the worm to cause sliding movement of the rack.

3. The structure as specified in claim 2, said means including a shaft extending into the interior of the building onwhich the awning is mounted.

SHERMAN G. BOND. 

